Glenelg Shire Council is taking steps to address the risk of landslides in the area.
The 53 landslides, identified on the cliff top adjacent to Nuns Beach after heavy rain last year, are still active and could cause life-threatening injuries at any time.
This was the reality presented by A.S. Miner Geotechnical (ASMG) Engineer Tony Miner when he spoke to about 50 people during a number of information sessions.
The group was mostly made up of property owners living in the nearby area, who attended sessions in groups of between eight and 12 across the day, but also included passers-by and users of the area.
The information was the next of a series of steps being undertaken by Glenelg Shire Council and Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) in regards to this section of coastline.
Portland experienced heavy and prolonged periods of rainfall during 2013, corresponding with significant landslide activity on the section of coast between Nuns Beach and Anderson Point in Portland.
As a result, a number of paths and tracks were impacted and concerns for public safety were expressed.
Mr Miner, who has been involved in the risk assessment of the area since day one, said there were eight different types of landslides present at Nuns Beach, with the rock size ranging from one cubic metre up to 600 cubic metres.
“The message we want to get out is that we have determined the risks in this area as unacceptable and this hasn’t changed – there is still activity and rocks are still falling.
“A landslide could occur at any time especially when the rain increases during winter and if this happens it has potential to cause death, it’s about how much risk people are willing to accept.
“Our primary objective is the safety of the public and to do this we have to look at the options of either managing and mitigating the hazard or taking the things we care about away from the risk.”
Mr Miner presented three short walking inspections of the Nuns Beach area as well as providing information during the six-hour drop in period.
The next stage involves working through the options proposed for the area, including community consultation on each of the proposals, and to seek funding options.
